Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre didn’t want to go on DL

By STEPHEN HAWKINS -
Associated Press -
Monday, April 14, 2014

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Adrian Beltre was hoping to get back in the lineup for the Texas Rangers this week before being told he was going on the disabled list instead because of a strained left quadriceps muscle.

“I did not agree with the decision. It was out of my hands,” Beltre said Monday, a day after the DL move was made. “Obviously the medical staff and the front office thought it was best. … I have no say over that.”

The Rangers are being cautious, and the 35-year-old third baseman even acknowledged that the move was “probably smart.”

Beltre said he was ready to try to play Tuesday night in the second game of the home series against Seattle. He played five seasons for the Mariners before joining the Rangers as a free agent before the 2011 season.

After coming out of a game at Boston last Tuesday, Beltre returned to Texas for a medical exam and an MRI. With the disabled list move retroactive to Wednesday, the earliest he will be eligible to be activated is April 24, an off day for the Rangers.

Even while dealing with hamstring issues most of last season, Beltre played 161 games. His last DL stint was for five weeks late in the 2011 season because of a left hamstring strain.

Beltre said he was planning to manage the quad issue like he did with the hamstring last season, and is used to not being 100 percent healthy.

“But this is a different injury than I’m used to,” he said. “There was nothing I could say because the decision was already made.”

Manager Ron Washington said it was a tough decision, but that the team is hopeful that the extra time for Beltre now will be beneficial for the third baseman and the team as the season progresses.

General manager Jon Daniels had indicated over the weekend that the Rangers were leaning to putting Beltre on the disabled list.

Beltre went through a workout with no issues Saturday, but he wasn’t able to get on the field for another scheduled session Sunday because of poor weather.

The Rangers announced just before Sunday’s game the DL move for Beltre that created a spot on the roster for newly acquired right-hander Hector Noesi.